Immunomodulatory Activity of Methanolic and Aqueous Extracts of Whole Plant of Achyranthes Aspera Linn. in Swiss Albino Mice and Wistar Albino Rats

Abstract

In the traditional system of medicine of Ayurveda the medicinal plants that are known to modulate the immune response fall under the concept of rasayana. These plants also have been attributed with anabolic antistress adaptogenic nootropic antioxidant and anti-aging properties. A good immunomodulatory drug can be a breakthrough in the treatment of diseases where an abnormal immune response is the pathological cause such as cancer autoimmune diseases and natural or acquired immune deficiency syndromes. The aim of the present study was to investigate the immunomodulatory activity of methanolic and aqueous extracts of the whole plant of Achyranthes aspera Linn. in Swiss Albino mice and Wistar Albino rats. The first model was cyclophosphamide induced myelosuppression where cyclophosphamide was used to suppress the immune system in Swiss Albino mice and evaluated the plant extracts in reversal of myelosuppression by analyzing various hematological parameters. In the second model involving Arthus type immediate hypersensitivity the plant extracts were evaluated for protection from Arthus type immediate hypersensitivity in Wistar Albino rats. The potency of AEAA aqueous extract of Achyranthes aspera and MEAA methanolic extract of Achyranthes aspera were compared. Both AEAA and MEAA have shown significant immunomodulatory activity in both the cases. However MEAA was found to have higher potency plt 0.01 compared to AEAA plt 0.05.